Electric field as a novel switch for magnetization of Fe/graphene system

Abstract

The magnetic property of a graphene-adsorbed Fe adatom was observed under an external electric field effect (-0.3-0.3 eV/A) using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In this study, it was demonstrated that the magnetic moment of Fe on graphene was changed linearly according to the electric field. The density of states and differential planar-averaged charge-density indicated that the changing electronic structure was due to a redistribution of valence electrons under external electric field that induces a continuous change in the localized magnetic moment of the Fe adatom. This research suggests that the magnetic property of the adatom on graphene is tunable by an electric field. Furthermore, these results may be applicable to the spintronic memory device industry.